Airport-like bus terminal in Parañaque features ticketing-system, boarding gates

The Parañaque Terminal Exchange (PITX), the country's first "landport," is set to be inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte on November 5.

Officials of the Parañaque City Police inspected the PITX on Friday.

According to Tina Panganiban-Perez's report on "24 Oras", the PITX was dubbed as a "landport" because its features can be compared to an airport but instead of serving airplanes, the terminal will be for buses, jeepneys, UV express, and taxis.

"A nice cool environment with seat, with shops, and then with all the options for transport," PITX general manager Mariano Antonio Arroyo Jr. said.

The PITX also features a high-tech ticketing system, wherein the discounts for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities were already computed and incorporated on the ticket.

"Lalabas na po ang schedules natin... pwede ka nang mamili ng seat natin," Arroyo said.

The tickets which can be purchased at the PITX show the information of the boarding gate and the time of departure.

Monitors showing trip schedules have been put into place for passengers to check the status of their trips.

"That is the main concept of the system. It's like an airport talaga. That's why we call it a landport," Arroyo said.

The security in the "landport" can also be compared with that of an airport. Apart from security guards, K-9 dogs are present, and CCTV cameras are scattered.

To ensure that non-passengers will pass the boarding gates, QR codes on the tickets must be scanned.

Just like in an airport the loading and unloading areas are separate.

For buses, the departure area is located at the ground floor, while the arrival area is at the second floor.

For UV Express, the third floor is the designated area for loading and unloading of passengers.

For jeepneys, the unloading area is at the south of PITX while the loading area is at the north end.

For taxis, the unloading area is at the south while the loading area is along the Kennedy Road.

"So talagang hiwalay natin kasi 'yan po 'yung isa sa mga reasons nagta-tangle po ang traffic natin because one, people disembark and embark in the same place," Arroyo said.

Passengers from south of Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, and nearby provinces can benefit from the PITX.

The PITX will also be connected to the Light Rail Transit Line 1's Cavite Extension.

The Department of Transportation is expecting that the terminal will ease traffic in Metro Manila, particularly along Esda-Taft Ave. area. —Ted Cordero and Tina Panganiban-Perez/GMA News